05/22/2026
ON THIS DAY // MAY 22, 1863
On May 22, 1863, the U.S. War Department issued General Order No. 143, officially creating the United States Colored Troops (USCT) during the Civil War. The order established the Bureau of Colored Troops, a federal structure responsible for organizing and managing Black regiments serving in the Union Army. This marked a major turning point in both the war and the broader struggle for emancipation.
Prior to the order, Black men had faced significant barriers to military service despite the Union’s increasing need for manpower. The Emancipation Proclamation, issued earlier in 1863, opened the door for African Americans to enlist, but General Order No. 143 formalized the process and expanded Black participation in the war effort on a national scale.
More than 180,000 Black soldiers eventually served in the USCT, alongside thousands more in the Navy. These troops fought in major battles across the South and played a critical role in weakening the Confederacy. Their service also transformed the meaning of the Civil War, shifting it from a conflict focused primarily on preserving the Union into a struggle tied directly to emancipation and citizenship.
Despite their contributions, Black soldiers faced discrimination, unequal pay, dangerous assignments, and the threat of brutal treatment if captured by Confederate forces. Nevertheless, their courage and sacrifice challenged racist assumptions and strengthened demands for civil rights after the war.
General Order No. 143 remains a landmark moment in American military and Black history, symbolizing service, resistance, and the fight for freedom.
